QMI Agency

A great white shark choked to death on a sea lion in front of camera-wielding Australian beach-goers who thought the creature was just putting on a show.

A July 12 YouTube video shows the beast thrashing near the shore. One bystander comments, "He's not very happy, is he?"

Nobody seemed to realized the shark was actually choking to death.

Its carcass washed up on the beach north of Geraldton three days later.

The Australian Department of Fisheries said the four-metre long shark has "no visible signs of injury or disease" but there was "a large Australian sea lion stuck inside its throat."

"It is possible that the shark was trying to dislodge the blockage," government scientist Rory McAuley said. "Such a large object may have damaged the shark's internal organs or impeded water flow into his gills, contributing to his death. Alternatively, the shark may have accidentally become stranded in his attempts to get rid of the obstruction."